Immediately He Proclaimed Jesus

Daily Reading: Acts 9

Scripture Focus: And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9.20)

Devotional Thought: When Saul (Paul) was saved, he was not immediately accepted as a preacher.  Yet, "immediately he proclaimed Jesus."

Some practical considerations from Saul's story:

• God uses people now.  We don’t need to make people wait long periods of time before they become involved in the work of Christ.  Jesus enlisted people right away to help in his mission.  The Samaritan woman in John 4 was a poor prospect to be evangelized, much less to be an evangelist.  But, right after meeting Jesus she went into town and started urging people to come to Christ!  We need to see more of that in the Church today.

• When Saul came to Christ, he already had a thorough knowledge of the scriptures.  That is not usually the case with new Christians, and we must supplement their faith with knowledge.  When we put someone to work in the Kingdom, we need to teach them God's Word as thoroughly and quickly as possible so that they can witness and work effectively and accurately.  (Consider the case of Apollos in Acts 18.  He was a dynamic preacher, but didn’t know the whole story about Jesus.)

• There is a lesson for new converts and young disciples, too.  They must have faith and fortitude.  New Christians need to be confident enough in God - and courageous enough in their hearts - to immediately begin witnessing.  Yes, they must learn the scriptures, but that can come along as they advance in service and ministry.  There's nothing like on-the-job-training - nothing like the pressure of working - to get people into the Word!  We need to get busy right away in the work of the Kingdom.  Are you using any excuses to avoid serving God?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for saving me.  Now use me to be a witness for you.  Grant also, Lord, that I may have confidence in your ability to use others - even new disciples - in your work.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 69.6-12

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons.

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.